It's kind of hard to believe the lovely top photo is the same house as shown in the black and white photo immediately below. But it is. The two photos were snapped about 49 years apart in time. What a difference half a century can make. The house is located at
1112 Elgin Lane in Key West, Florida and it is offered for sale at the asking price of
$895,000 or $658 per sq ft for this
1360 sq ft house that sits on a 25.5' X 78' lot (2022 sq ft) in the
Old Town area of
Key West.
I searched the historic Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine when the house was built. Elgin Lane currently runs two blocks from White Street to Grinnell Street where it ends. The 1889 edition did not show any houses on the (current 1100 block portion of the lane nor did it even show the lane. The Frances Street to Grinnell Street was then called Hidalgo Alley. The 1889 edition did show nearby houses on both Frances and Fleming Streets. The 1892 edition showed showed the lane with "letters" for addresses as opposed to numbers. Elgin Street was shown on the map for the block running from Frances to Grinnell. A separate lane that runs from White Street and ends at the rear of 1112 Elgin Lane was then called Beach Court although there was no nearby beach. Beach Court is now called Stickney Lane. The 1899 edition clearly showed an empty lot between 1110 and 1114 Elgin Street. It was not until the 1912 edition that 1112 Elgin Lane was included in the map. So we know that 1112 Elgin Lane was built sometime between 1899 and 1912. The porch enclosure is gone from the house but a second story addition was added. The porch was restored and some gingerbread added to give the house some architectural details that do not appear in similar houses located on the lane. I'm not complaining - just stating what existed in the older photos I found.
When you walk down the lane and first see 1112 Elgin Lane you immediately sense that this is a house that love built. The place is so damned cute. It is the kind of house potential owners dream of owning because it embodies the style and character so many desire. The attention to detail is evident before you cross the threshold. Once inside you are treated to glorious Dade County Pine walls everywhere. There are no walls with drywall or plaster in this house. Even the ceilings are pine. The second room off the front sitting room is used as a combination guest bedroom and office. The kitchen follows at the back of the house. The custom made cabinets continue the rich wood motif of the rest of this home. The tall and slender Sub Zero refrigerator disappears in the kitchen.
A window above the kitchen sink looks out to the rear garden.The listing Realtor, not me, suggested that a new owner might remove the carport and fence to provide space for pool. Stickney Lane ends in the grass just to the left of the above photo where a new owner might park his or her car.
The master suite occupies the entire second floor. Dormers on the east side of the space provide both light and additional living space that makes this floor much more livable. This floor is quite large and open as opposed to many houses I have seen. This space works.
The Historic Key West Seaport is two blocks to the north. There you will find
Harpoon Harry's, just about favorite spot for breakfast or a good old fashioned real cheeseburger. The
Schooner Warf Bar is right on the waterfront as are
Turtle Kraals and the
Half Shell Raw Bar.
Coles Peace Bakery
(where you can get some great artisan bread and incredible sandwiches)
is a block away on Eaton Street. If you run out of bread, milk, or or need an aspirin, BLOSSOMS is located at the end of Elgin Lane on White Street. Duval Street is five
minutes to the west. Everything a man (or woman) could want in life are all
located within a five minute walk from the house. (Photos of the house are used with permission of Doug Mayberry Real Estate and Michael A. Philip.)
CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on
1112 Elgin Lane. Then please call me,
Gary Thomas,
305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this cute Key West property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at
Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.
